Favorite Son: Gallant Hearts, #2

By Jesse Loring

Marcus Worthington is the favorite son and heir to the Worthington family fortune. From the time he and his brother were taken in by their grandfather after their parents' death, Marcus has been groomed to take over the family business. His life hasn't been his to live for as long as he can remember. At least he is in a position to take care of his black sheep brother and repay his grandfather for his kindness. Even if it means he is alone while living the destiny planned for him.

Jack Boynton works in security for Worthington, Ltd., and enjoys the challenges of his position. He has a quiet life and comes and goes as it suits him. He lacks companionship but believes that void will be filled when the time is right. Until then, he helps to keep Worthington Towers secure for the high power executives who work at one of the elite firms in the city.

When a security breach throws the two disparate men together, a spark of attraction ignites into a flame that is hard for either to ignore. Overcoming the barriers of money and class are harder for Marcus than for Jack who has no respect for boundaries. Will Marcus move beyond his cold distance to find a meeting in the middle to embrace the solid foundation Jack can provide?


This standalone 22k word instalove novella has a snobby overworked executive and a rough-around-the-edges security man who is determined to bridge the gap between them and a HEA.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jesse Loring
• Release date: Apr 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386318439

Jesse Loring

Jesse Loring spent many years cutting her teeth on M/M romance in the old school anime fandoms of yore. Those yaoi conventions which first drew her to writing fanfiction have carried over into her original fiction endeavors as she branches out into LGBT romance. She'll always be a yaoi fangirl at heart. <3 Sign up for her newsletter for information about new releases. http://eepurl.com/cBpDBv Read more from Jesse Loring The Gallant Heart Series Black Sheep Favorite Son Good Neighbor

Book preview

1

MARCUS

A lright. Marcus Worthington closed the portfolio in front of him and nodded to the executives around the conference table. We’ll go with the Redford Agency for publicity on this. Jackie will spearhead the development of the ad campaign with them. Coordinate through Stephanie to get that timeline in place. Any other business?

No one chimed in.

Then I think we’re done. He scooped up his tablet and leather portfolio when he stood.

It was only when Marcus was on his feet that the other executives stood to file out of the conference room.

It was a point of respect to wait until the chief executive stood before the meeting was considered adjourned. Marcus wasn’t so sure it was out of respect for him individually or that the owner of Worthington Ltd. was his grandfather.

Perhaps it didn’t matter. According to those who were actually loyal to Marcus, no one appeared to have an opinion one way or another.

Mostly, everyone was in a holding pattern to see what the elder Worthington would do.

Rumors had been flying for the past two weeks that Marcus’ grandfather was making preparations to step down and turn over control of the company to him.

How much truth there was to that was anyone’s guess. Even Marcus’.

Marcus still lived in the family estate, he ate dinner with his grandfather most evenings but that didn’t mean he was any more privy to what his grandfather was thinking than anyone else who knew the old man.

Sometimes Marcus wondered if his younger brother had the right idea by refusing to be drawn into the drama of family responsibilities.

Not that Ren was suited for life in a board room. That fell to Marcus.

Business hadn’t been Marcus’ first love, either. After their parents were killed and Marshall Worthington took custody of Marcus and Ren, he felt a deep responsibility to help his grandfather continue to build the company and to see it prosper.

It fell to Marcus to be positioned for when his grandfather finally turned over the entirety of his company and his estate to his grandsons. Considering his grandfather was worth billions, that wasn’t a light responsibility.

As he walked to his office, Marcus made a detour by the vice president of research. Hunter Langdon was a long time friend and college roommate. Hunter had been at the company as long as Marcus and now he was heading up the development of the new switch technology for the telecom business Worthington Ltd. had just acquired.

He tapped at the wooden door frame to get Hunter’s attention. Hunter was on the phone and lifted his chin for Marcus to come in and shut the door.

He wrapped up his conversation and took the copy of the meeting portfolio Marcus held out to him. Sorry I couldn’t make it, Marcus. I’m ironing out the last of the details for the trip to London next month. It’s a month away and I feel like I don’t have enough time to get everything in order.

You could hire an assistant, Marcus said. Getting Profyle Technologies in line with our vision is going to take most of your brain space for the next six months.

Is there money in the budget?

Marcus shrugged, flicking through his tablet to find the latest cost projections. Absorb someone from an under-performing department. His gaze flicked up to look at Hunter. Just as long as you give them back.

Right, right. Hunter flipped through the portfolio. So did I miss anything important at the meeting?

Nothing that you can’t glean from the minutes. I’ll make sure Abigail gets you a copy. Marcus checked his watch and stood. I have a conference call with the lawyers in half an hour. If you have any trouble finding an assistant, let me know and I’ll put someone on it.

Hey, Hunter caught Marcus before he got to the door. A couple of us are heading to Wingers for hot wings and trivia night. Why don’t you come? You’re looking a little frayed around the edges. Maybe you need some down time.

Another night, Marcus said with a wave. Too much to do this week.

You really should consider getting a hobby, Marcus. You were a lot more fun when we were in college.

By the time Marcus got to his office, Hunter’s parting words had stuck deep in him. Normally, he didn’t let what others thought of him get under his skin. But Hunter was a college buddy.

A college buddy who just called him on the carpet about not having a social life.

Marcus bit down on the impulse to call Hunter back and protest that he did have a social life and did have fun.

He knew better. Hunter would know that was patently untrue. Ever since getting his masters in business from Yale, Marcus had solely focused on being ready to take his grandfather’s place. There had been no time for hobbies and a social life that didn’t directly benefit Marcus socially.

Hell, he had even learned to play golf.

Marcus hated golf.

With deals made and broken on the golf course, it was something required of him, so it was something he did.

It also allowed him to stay close to his grandfather to learn everything he needed to know about Worthington, Ltd.

What the hell would he do as a hobby, anyway?

How did his little brother decide what he wanted to do? It had been out of the blue when Ren announced he wanted to go to culinary school instead of Marcus’ and their grandfather’s alma mater.

The bigger question was when did he decide it?

Why was Marcus even considering any of this? It wasn’t like he was dissatisfied with his life.

It just wasn’t what he had dreamed of at one time.

But dreams were just that. Dreams. They were nice to ponder every so often. Then reality asserted itself and Marcus did what he had to do to make sure his family was taken care of.

This was ridiculous. Marcus had no time for this foolishness. How had he let Hunter get so deep under his skin?

Marcus squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. He needed his game face for the conference call. Whatever nonsense Hunter was talking about would have to wait. He had far too much to do to and no time to give this any more thought.

Entering his office, there was nothing specific out of order that he could see from the doorway. Marcus couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that someone had been in here. He knew it wasn’t his administrative assistant. Philip had taken a day off.

The uneasiness scraped against his skin,